Wait, how many people are playing Dota 2?

The MOBA, or multiplayer online battle arena, genre of games is becoming increasingly popular. Finding its roots in StarCraft map “Aeon of Strife” and later the Warcraft 3 mod that gave its original popularity a name in “Defense of the Ancients” it’s now one of the most played types of games in the world. Just how popular?

In a completely unrelated-to-stats blog post, Valve (curators of the now acronym-free Dota 2) has put its popularity in to numbers. According to the gaming software giant they’re now logging over 3 million unique players every month, for a ridiculous total thus far of over 100,000,000 games played. If too many zeroes hurts your head, that’s one. hundred. million.

That’s a pretty staggering number, considering the game’s officially still in closed beta, though I don’t really think there’s anybody left on the planet who doesn’t have a beta key or seven. That’s 3 million people, every month, playing a game that’s not actually out yet.

“The Dota 2 community is blossoming into a beautiful flower,” says Valve.

That’s one hell of a big flower.

Have you been playing Dota 2 – or does your favour lie with the other big games in the genre; League of Legends and Heroes of Newirth?

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I'm old, grumpy and more than just a little cynical. One day, I found myself in possession of a NES, and a copy of Super Mario Bros 3. It was that game that made me realise that games were more than just toys to idly while away time - they were capable of being masterpieces.
I'm here now, looking for more of those masterpieces.
I am also the emperor of the backend

made a LoL account, got to plat in 2 months. i just got tired of the meta (solo mid/top duo bot, jung), so i went back to dota2. LoL is easier to get ur hands on, easier to understand, and the learning curve is not as steep.